Feature and Follow Friday (23)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee’s View and Alison at Alison Can Read. It is a great way for bloggers to make new friends and find new blogs to follow. Go to either blog, and check out the featured blog of the week.  Follow ALL the instructions and add your link to the list. It’s just that easy!

This week's question:

"Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kickass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?"

My favorite books don't really have definitive characteristics. I am an equal-opportunity book lover. There are books that I never in a million years would have thought I would enjoy that have become some of my favorite books (Game of Thrones series, Water for Elephants). I love a story that grabs my attention and holds it and characters that are interesting and dynamic. For me, those two things are an integral part of any story and must be present to even begin to hold my interest.  And I don't want a recycled, formulaic story. Give me some originality, please. 

This isn't to say that I don't love a gorgeous male character or a strong female lead. But I don't base what I read on those factors. Besides, what I find gorgeous might be ugly to someone else and what I consider strong in a female character might seem wishy-washy to another reader.

So, do your favorite books have certain characteristics in common?  Leave a link in the comment section and I will hop by!

Follow Friday (18)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee’s View and Alison at Alison Can Read. It is a great way for bloggers to make new friends and find new blogs to follow. Go to either blog, follow ALL the instructions and then add you link to the list. It’s just that easy!

This week’s question:

Question of the Week: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?

There are a lot of books I would love to spend eternity in, but I think my top three are: any of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Books (preferably as Rhage's shellan), the Mortal Instruments books with Jace or the Twilight books as a vampire living with the Cullens. Funny, every book I picked is a series!

What book would you want to spend eternity in? Leave a comment with the link in the comment section and I will stop by and have a look. 

Follow Friday (15)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee’sView and Alison at Alison Can Read. It is great way for bloggers to make new friends and find new blogs to follow. Go to either blog, follow ALL the instructions and then add your link to the list. It's just that easy!

This week's question:

Question: What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to books? Maybe you don't like love triangles or thin plots? Tell us about it!

Wow, where to start?

A plot I can walk through:  I cannot handle an unbelievable plot. Now, I'm not saying I don't like science fiction, paranormal, dystopian books or such. What I don't like is the forced, "please-believe-that-I-am-plausible" plots that are practically begging you to believe in them. The ones that give you so much back story you could wallpaper a large room with it, because the author figures if they drown you in information, you will digest any swill they put in front of you. But the plot is still unbelievable. There are no amount of words that can change that. A wet-paper bag plot is still a wet paper-bag plot.

The blatant rip-off books:  You know the ones I am talking about. The ones that took Twilight or Hunger Games and changed a few key things (like the setting or the character names) and then tried to pass it off as an original book. Ummm, yeah, I already read that book, thank you very much. Guess what?  Your readers are more intelligent than you are giving them credit for and they know a rip-off when they see it.

Punctuation and editing issues:  I have no problem with these in an ARC, but I do have an issue with it in a book put out in the marketplace. There is a popular author I read whose books often have multiple editing errors and she very rarely puts question marks at the end of her questions. And it is sooo noticeable! It drives me nuts! First time I noticed it, I waved it off. But after the fifteenth or twentieth time I noticed it, I realized it was her writing style. But a question is a question. And sometimes the English teacher in me can't help but notice it.

Lack of follow-through in a story:  I think probably my biggest pet peeve is the author that begins a story line in a book, pulls the reader in with it and then drops it, leaving the reader wanting more. This is most often seen in books with multiple plot lines flowing at one time. I understand that sometimes stories drift from their original intent, but I hate to be left hanging. 

I bet I could think of a hundred more (sometimes I can be unforgiving) but these are probably my biggest pet peeves. What are yours? Leave a link to your Follow Friday post in the comments and I will hope by and check it out!

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (8)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books. It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy for Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.

This week's question:

"What is your favorite spooky book (i.e. mystery/suspense, thriller, ghost story, etc.)?"

I had to think about this for a couple of minutes. My initial reaction was to say Stephen King's It, but then I realized I could pick just about any Stephen King book. I have read every book he has ever published and they are all spooky in some way. One of my favorites by Mr. King is a book called Bag of Bones, released in 1999. The story is very haunting, yet in a way, beautiful as well. I love this book. It kept me up at night, though. 

I also enjoyed Gerald's Game, but it scared the crap out of me! I was reading it alone in the bedroom when I reached a particularly scary part. I had to put the book down and go sit in the family room with my husband, it spooked me so bad. And the thing is, there were no ghosts or monsters, or creepy clowns. This was very realistic and could literally happen to someone. I think that is why it scared me so badly! Put, this is still one of my favorites, because the psychology of it is so frightening.

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee’s View and Alison at Alison Can Read. It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and find new blogs to follow. 

This week's question (it's a tough one):

"If you could have characters from a particular book meet characters from a particular tv show and form an epic storyline, which ones would it be and why?"

This question really made me think! But I think I finally came up with an answer. I think I would like   the characters from Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys to meet up with the characters from That 70's Show. Those McGowan boys need a good dose of Donna to whip them into shape, so maybe they will lay off of Megan a bit. Plus, that combination couldn't be anything but funny!   

So jump in and say hi! Then jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (7)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books. It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy for Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.
This week's question/challenge:


"It's time to spread some love beyond the borders of the Book Blogger Hop! This week, we aren't answering a question. We are spotlighting our fellow bloggers. Find your favorite author interview, guest post, book review OR bookish article that ANOTHER BOOK BLOGGER recently featured on their site and tell us why you love it/them. As an additional challenge, find your favorite from EACH category above and spotlight all four of them (interview, guest post, review, article)." 


I found a really great review and author interview of Remembrance by Michelle Madow on Word Spelunking. I liked the honesty in the review and the author interview was very well done! Very ell done!

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read. It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers. So jump in and say hi! Then jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).
This Friday's question:


"If you could pick one character in a book, movie or television show to swap places with, who would it be?"


Well, anyone who follows my blog knows that I am a Twilight freak, so my obvious answer is Bella. I am Team Edward, and I would give my right arm to switch places with her. But, I wanted to give some "not-so-obvious" answers as well.


Anna Scott from Notting Hill (movie):  I love, love, love this movie! Anna is beautiful, rich, famous and falls for down-to-earth, every man Hugh Grant. I would take her place in a heartbeat!


Callie Cargill from The Glades (tv): Cute, spunky, smart and the girlfriend of Jim (aka Matt Passmore--gorgeous Australian actor). 


Those are my answers for this week. Leave a link in the comment section to your answers and I will hop by and check them out. 

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (6)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books. It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy for Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.
This week's question:

"In honor of Banned Books Week, what is your favorite banned or frequently challenged book?" You can click HERE for the 2010-2011 list in PDF format or HERE to view past years and choose from that list.

Well, mine is the Twilight series, from the 2009 and 2010 Banned and/or Challenged List. Figures, right? Anyway, it has romance, action and quite frankly, I love it.  

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read  It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers.  So jump in and say hi! Than jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

This week's question for Follow Friday:

"What book that hasn't been turned into a movie yet would you most like to make it to the big screen and who would you like cast as your favorite character?"


One of my favorite books is Duma Key by Stephen King. I would like to see the main character, Edgar Freemantle, played by Terry O'Quinn (Locke in Lost). It would make an excellent film!


Ok, there are my answers! Now, leave the link to your answers in the comment section below! Happy hopping!

Follow Friday (5)

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read  It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers.  So jump in and say hi! Than jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

This week's question for Follow Friday:


"Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep revisiting it?"


Ok, my answer is Twilight. I kind of cringed when I saw this question, because I know that there are a lot of people out there who "hate Twilight." And inevitably I get comments about how awful it is, how this it is, how that it is. Well, this is my blog and I am going to be honest. I love this series. I have read each book 7 times. And I feel like each time, I find something new. I never get tired of it. There is just something in this series of books that calls to me and pulls me in. I can't explain it, I don't even try. There is just something about this story I love. It's funny that this question came up, because I was just looking at my bookshelf yesterday (gazing at my 4 copies of each book I have) and thinking that I needed to re-read them. It's been too long. 


The newest series I have become enamored with is The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I love it! It gives me the same lost in another world feeling that I get when I read my Twilight books. I have read it twice, but I know that I will read it again and again.

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (4)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy for Books   It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy for Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.
This week's question:

"As a book blogger, how do you introduce yourself in your profile?"

I really just tell it like it is. Who I am--married mom of 3, what I do--school, work and support my girls in marching band and why I blog--to encourage other parents to read what their children read. And I do say I love to read, which I know is probably a given, but I still like to mention it.

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read  It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers.  So jump in and say hi! Than jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

This week's question for Follow Friday:

"What imaginary book would you like to make a reality?"

I have two answers to this question. First, since I'm a creepy, overly obsessed Twilight mom, any of the Twilight books would suffice. I love the Cullens and I want to meet them. Alice could be my best friend and Emmett could be my big brother. And then there's Edward......Secondly, I would love for the Mortal Instrument books to be reality. I love the world of the Shadowhunters and I would like to see it first hand!



Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (3)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy-for-Books   It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy-for-Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.

This week's question:

“Many of us primarily read one genre of books, with others sprinkled in. If authors stopped writing that genre, what genre would you start reading? Or would you give up reading completely if you couldn’t read that genre anymore?”

 

I would never, ever give up reading! I consider myself a pretty eclectic reader as it is, though recently, I have been leaning toward the paranormal genre (adult and young adult). So, I guess if authors stopped writing that one, I would read just about anything else I could get my hands on.

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read  It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers.  So jump in and say hi! Than jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

Follow Friday's question this week is:
         "Have you ever wanted a villain to win at the end of a story? If so, which one?"

Nope, never. I can't recall any villan I have ever liked enough to want them to "win" at the end. There have been a few that I felt sympathetic toward, but never enough to want them to win.

Ok, now off you go--hoppity hop and follow, follow, follow!

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (2)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy-for-Books  It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy-for-Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.

This week's question:

“What are you most looking forward to this fall/autumn season – A particular book release? Halloween? The leaves changing color? Cooler temperatures? A vacation? (If your next season is other than fall/autumn, tell us about it and what you are most looking forward to in your part of the world!)”

Well, there are a couple of things I am looking forward to this fall. Since I live in Arizona, cooler weather is at the top of my list--I am tired of 110 degree weather. But probably the one thing I am most looking forward to is BREAKING DAWN PART 1! I am a huge Twilight freak and I am dying for this to come out!

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read  It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers.  So jump in and say hi! Than jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

Follow Friday's question this week is:

If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose and why?

Wow, I'm not sure. I have read several books lately that I hated the way they ended, but they have a sequel coming out, so they aren't over, which means there is still a chance that it will work out in the end.  I can't remember the last time I read a single book with no sequel. There is a Stephen King book called Bag of Bones that I hated the ending. A major character died and I really wish they hadn't. So, I would keep that character alive, which really wouldn't have affected the story's outcome at all.

So, now everyone, hop and follow away! 

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday (1)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme that is hosted by Jennifer over at Crazy-For-Books.  It is a place for book bloggers and readers to find and follow new book blogs; to share their love of the written word, support other book bloggers and find new friends. So, HOP on over to Crazy-For-Books to grab the button, post about the hop and answer the question on your blog, then visit the other links to make new friends.

This week's question:  Non-book related week: Do you have pets? I do have pets, 3 dogs--2 Border Collies and a Jack Russell Terrier, plus an extremely annoying bird. The Jack Russell is my baby, her name is Lilly and I can't live without her!

Follow Friday is hosted by Rachel at Parajunkee's View and Alison at Alison Can Read.  It is another way for bloggers to make new friends and followers.  So jump in and say hi! Than jump over to either blog and post a link to your blog (be sure to follow the required steps!).

Follow Friday's question this week is:  In some books like the Sookie Stackhouse series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish this would happen with in real life?

Hmm, this one was a tough one! I would have to say faeries, like those in Melissa Marr's wonderful series. That would definitely be interesting!

Have fun finding new blogs to follow!